Raku Tiles by Frank Colson

Above are samples of Raku TileS that we did here at Colson Studio.

They give the appearance of being three dimensional, while laying flat.

Welcome to RAKU TILES BY HAND, part of our successful group of online how to make TILES BY HAND for more than seven years.

The creation of RAKU TILES is unique in the spectrum of tile making. In addition to an unusual range of surface glaze effects, the RAKU technique provides for almost instant gratification. The RAKU method of firing glazes can take as little as ten minutes from start to finish. It is useful to learn a little bit about the history of RAKU, it's roots, and how it was adapted in the contemporary tile context of today. RAKU originated in Japan as an expressive way of creating a clay bowl for the tea ceremony. Over several centuries, as Japanese artistic expressions began to influence the Western world, the technique known as RAKU went through many transitions. Through a long period of experimentation, it continued to maintain one basic characteristic: it was glazed and fired in a very short period of time. Therefore, the basis for creating successful RAKU TILES lies almost entirely in the firing technique. As a consequence, it is essential to have a kiln that will perform the tasks necessary to produce RAKU.